Below is the introduction (and time-line) from the massive article in Notes From the Borderland issue 10. To read more, purchase the magazine (details below). Enjoy. It seems, from the way our site was 'taken down' immediately this time-line appeared, some people found the time-line itself rather worrying. Wait till they read the article. Of course, rather than give NFB praise for diligent and fact-based investigative research, the main focus will be a witch-hunt and evasive blame game. Pathetic. Trolls on Indymedia [i] have even criticised the introduction below for having too many facts. Let them hate so long as they fear...

On the positive side, we came across this piece from Indymedia entitled 'Unions Attack Progress' 23/6/12 by an anonymous 'union activist' which raises some very interesting questions and underlines how relevant this article is to current national debates. If this activist has 'got it', hopefully others will too. We reproduce it (in italics) to aid debate, and help clarify our position:

"During the last week or so, an unholy row has erupted between the unions and Progress, including an intervention by Lord Peter Mandelson. At the recent Unison conference, Dave Prentis, the General Secretary, spoke out against what he called 'an intolerable think tank,' referring to the Blairite grouping Progress. Progress is said to be like a party within a party and has recently attracted some controversy because the trade unions think it represents New Labour policy rather than Labour policy, particularly over the pay freeze and public sector reform. The unions need not take any lessons from the discredited Peter Mandelson who had to resign twice from Labour cabinets. Whilst a European Commissioner scandal followed the Prince of Darkness around, in 2012 he has been known to have attended Bilderberg group meetings.The situation has become even more complicated recently. The trade unions (GMB, Unison and Unite) have expressed deep concern about Progress and its organisational and ideological positions. The new issue of Notes from the Borderland magazine, just published (see www.borderland.co.uk) announces that Hope Not Hate has been taken over by Progress. There was recently a fractious split between Seachlight magazine and Hope Not Hate over financial, organisational and political issues.The new issue that therefore arises is if Unison, for example wishes to see the back of Progress, then they should also oppose the takeover by Progress of Hope Not Hate. However, Unison have recently donated £60,000 to HNH, this appears to be contradictory. Whilst I support the questions being asked by Unison and Paul Kenny at the GMB about Progress, I would argue that all Union activists should consider whether to give Hope Not Hate any support or funding in the future, especially after the recent Borderland revelations"

Our position is that while we wouldn't reduce recent HNH developments to a 'Progress' takeover, that the flagship campaign has been captured by a pro David (and anti-Ed) Miliband faction of the Labour Right is undeniable. What disturbs us equally though is the way those who run HNH want to cynically mobilise HNH supporters in accordance with the Tory government's 'anti-extremism' agenda. Thus, in a bizarre symmetry that is almost amusing, as well as getting £60,000 from Unison recently, Hope Not Hate have also got £60,000 from the Tory-led coalition, for fighting 'extremism'. Somebody is clearly being conned here: we would actually suggest both the unions and the government, for HNH are incompetent as well as dishonest. Politically, HNH symbolise an overlap between the Labour Right, some Tories/Lib Dems, and elements of the state security apparatus. All very distasteful, and explored in depth in the article itself. Speaking of which, there now follows the introduction proper.

PANDORA’S POX: HOW FAR RIGHT LABOUR HIJACKED THE HOPE NOT HATE CAMPAIGN

Larry O’Hara and Heidi Svenson

Observers of the UK anti-fascist scene have noticed the major fall-out between Searchlight magazine, published by Gerry Gable, and erstwhile front campaign ‘Hope Not Hate’ headed by former Searchlight editor Nick Lowles. Below, we exclusively recount the origins mechanics and significance of that split, The article arises from an extensive anti-fascist intelligence operation launched some time ago, overseen by Agent Z, ably assisted by ES Riney. As Comrade Machiavelli said "no enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution". Nobody should, after reading it, doubt HNH is being used as a template/springboard to take the Labour Party even further to the Right, along the way junking even the pretence of a specific anti-fascist project.

INTRODUCTION

NFB readers are uniquely placed to understand this dispute because of prior research. Into Searchlight generally (‘Searchlight For Beginners’) Hope Not Hate (hereafter HNH) itself (see NFB issue 9 p.8-11) and this very split: which we were the first to break in detail: see ‘No Hope Lots of Hate’ 4/11/11 www.borderland.co.uk. We could not ignore what we found inside HNH: a coup mounted by rich finance capitalists, political associates of Tony Blair, his disciple David Miliband and even Gordon Brown, PR gobbledygook merchants, a US Embassy ‘protected source’ married to an executive member of the spook-friendly ‘British American Project’ and various other failed Labour Party candidates.

In case you’re wondering about the title: for reasons best known to themselves HNH deem ‘Pandora’s Box’ an important symbol of their campaign [ii]. We think pox a far more apposite metaphor than box...Another analogy you might ponder is cuckoos: those involved entered a nest and turfed out the original occupants.

As Leftist anti-fascists we have contempt for both sides in this dispute. If the bulk of (new) evidence raises questions about HNH and their backers, this should not be misconstrued as endorsing their opponents. One co-author (Larry) has been relentlessly harassed over the years by both sides [iii]. This history does not negate our research, but testifies to the accuracy of previous critiques: a tradition we hope to continue. Obvious, but worth emphasising, the Labour Right could easily hijack HNH precisely because it was never democratic, and always a front/hollow shell. A shell which Gerry Gable had no problem with when under control and ‘on message’. This structural democratic deficit, to which NFB has previously drawn attention, is the problem, and neither side welcomes participation by independent-minded anti-fascists. In one sense, therefore, the Gable clique has been hoist by their own petard. Unfortunately, the implications go far deeper than which set of shysters gets the Searchlight/Hope Not Hate franchises.

As usual, many helped, we will not betray their trust [iv]. Our task was helped by internal discontent about HNH’s current/future direction, concerns that cannot be articulated within a rigidly-controlled structure. We have no quarrel with grassroots HNH activists, but think the vast bulk need politically educating: this article is a start. If, having read it, you still want to be a dispensable stage-army for the serial funding applicants who run HNH, while imagining you are changing the world, don’t say you weren’t told.

AIMS/SCOPE OF THIS ARTICLE

1. As background, explaining the organisational/political relationship between the three parts of Searchlight: the magazine (SML), Searchlight Educational Trust (SET) & Searchlight Information Services (SIS), which has unravelled.

Breaking the news blackout by outlining what has actually happened, on which see the timeline below.

Paying particular attention to the roles played by individuals, some of whom even those familiar with Searchlight won’t have heard of. To that end, key biographical data is contained in text boxes scattered throughout the article. Inevitably, we focus more on HNH than Searchlight, not least because previous research has exhaustively examined the career and characters of Gerry and Sonia Gable especially. Matthew Collins and Nick Lowles were mentioned before: but their recent activities break new ground.

Outlining the political programme those running HNH have been/are pursuing.

Drawing out the implications for both anti-fascism and progressive politics generally. You do not have to vote Labour or even support them to note with trepidation how the Labour Right have muscled in on HNH for their own purposes.

Including enough information to substantiate assertions, strangling at birth any preposterous claim the article is ‘invention’. We will not stoop to the Searchlight/HNH tactic of giving out home addresses, or even SET’s office location. Some assets unearthed in our investigations (such as the ‘Captain’) we will keep quiet about. Should either faction target us, we will review our stance. You have been warned.

Elucidating what we think might/will happen, and how anti-fascists should respond. One anticipated consequence is furious abuse/character assassination of NFB magazine. Rather than waste space here on lies (some about photographs/ ghost-writing etc have already reached us) we will shortly set up a specific rebuttal page in the Searchlight/Hope Not Hate section of this site, entitled ‘Against the Lie Machine: Answering Pandora’s Pox critics’. Anybody interested can check there: and if you come across new lies not mentioned, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with details.

CIVIL WAR TIMELINE

May 2010 General Election: BNP did not break through, and lost all elected councillors in Barking and those up for election in Stoke. Seen as triumph for HNH.

Summer 2010: rumoured meetings between Nick Lowles, Cormac Hollingsworth, Ruth Smeeth, Simon Tuttle and Anthony Painter, at which game-plan is worked out. Lowles states around this time Gerry Gable told him he would ‘step aside’ in 2011. Gable vehemently denies this.

February 2011: publication of ‘Fear & Hope’, co-written by Painter and Lowles

March 28th 2011: Lowles & Hollingsworth meet Gerry & Sonia Gable, asking for the Searchlight magazine shares from Sonia, & Gerry to resign from SIS and SET by end of June 2011. Gable offered ‘honorary’ Presidency of SIS and nomination for a royal honour. Arise Lord Gable of Sheepshead!

April 2011: both sides canvas support from the Community Security Trust’s Richard Benson & Gerald Ronson.

May 2011: Lowles demands access to all Searchlight bank accounts including those on-line (until then controlled by Sonia Gable)

June 1st 2011: Hollingsworth accuses Sonia Gable of leaking SET information: he should look closer to home...

June 2011: exchange of letters/emails between Lowles and Gerry Gable. Lowles criticises his competence and suggests immediate resignation. Gable disputes this and refuses to hand over the extensive Searchlight research archive. David Middleburgh of Gallant McMillan lawyers starts advising Lowles.

June 2011: Lowles writes to SET Trustees informing them Gable has to leave in 2011, leaving in 2014 is “unacceptable to me and Cormac”

September 26th 2011: Sam Tarry (HNH) visits SET offices and finds the cupboard stripped bare: immediately informs Hollingsworth/Lowles who are junketing at Labour Party Conference in sunny Liverpool

September 27th 2011: emergency SET Trustees meeting called by Hollingsworth, following which both Gables immediately sacked, and police contacted about the archive removal. Smeeth appointed Secretary [v].

October 2011: that month’s Searchlight reports Lowles resigning as editor, but not why.

November 4th 2011: article ‘No Hope Lots of Hate: Civil War breaks out in the Searchlight Gang’ published on NFB web-site, causing consternation on both sides.

December 1st 2011: Gable writes letter to select circle announcing his & Sonia’s resignation from SIS in order to focus on other projects and wishes HNH “every success” (really?)

December 2011: HNH lobby CST to ensure all funds to Searchlight cut off and transferred to them.

December 2011: that month’s Searchlight criticises “poorly written” and plagiarised account of a New Right meeting on HNH web-site. Renewed appeal for funds.

February 22nd 2012: Searchlight email European anti-fascists with their version of events, including a draft article naming a HNH/SET employee: HNH legal threats result in the February magazine getting pulped.

February 25th 2012: European anti-fa network votes to confirm HNH as their sole UK representative.

March 2012: Searchlight magazine publicly mention the split, and attacks SET board member Tehmina Kazi, .

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About NFB Magazine

Welcome to Britain's premier parapolitical investigative magazine Notes from the Borderland (NFB). We have been producing the magazine since 1997 but some published material before then.

Our political perspective is Left/Green, but we welcome truth-tellers, whatever their affiliation. Research interests include the secret state (MI5/MI6/Special Branch, now SO15) & their assets, including those in the media. We are resolutely anti-fascist, and to that end investigate the far right and state infiltration of various milieus. In a shallow age where many TV programmes and print/internet stories are spoon-fed to servile journalists/bloggers by shadowy interests, NFB stands out as genuine investigative research.

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